The Dakar-ready Defender D7X-R
Land Rover is gearing up for the Dakar, unveiling a purpose-built Defender Dakar D7X-R that will take on the 2026 event. The brand plans to field three factory-backed trucks in the opening round of next year’s World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).
A bold new face for Dakar
The rally-prepped Defender wears a striking new Geopalette livery, blending sand, stone and earth tones with a contrasting aqua roof. The design is expected to become the visual signature of Land Rover’s modern rally-raid programme.
The team will enter the premier rally-raid event in January 2026, before the W2RC continues through Portugal, Argentina, Morocco and the UAE.
Behind the wheel of the three Defenders will be a powerhouse line-up:
- Stéphane Peterhansel – the 14-time Dakar winner and rally-raid legend
- Rokas Baciuška – one of the discipline’s rising stars
- Sara Price – American off-road ace and rally-raid podium finisher
Built from the Defender Octa
The competition machine is based on the recently launched Defender Octa, and because it races in the Stock category, its fundamental architecture remains intact. That includes the twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 and eight-speed gearbox, though both have been adapted for the stresses of multiday desert racing.
The engine is subject to rally-raid regulations, so a restrictor limits intake flow, trimming power to meet category rules. To survive the punishing heat, Land Rover adds improved cooling, replacing the Octa’s triple-radiator layout with one giant unit and fitting 12-volt fans. A particle filter protects the intake system from the fine sand common to the Dakar’s Saudi Arabian stages.
A lower final-drive ratio helps maximise torque at low speeds — essential when crawling up dunes or clawing through fesh-fesh.
Rally-spec suspension, brakes and protection
Desert racing involves brutal compression forces, so the D7X-R’s underpinnings are extensively reworked. The Defender Rally team retains elements of the Octa’s suspension but moves to:
- Bilstein-developed single front coil-over dampers
- Twin rear dampers for extra heat resistance and control
- 60mm wider track
- Raised ride height
- 35-inch tyres with room for three full-size spares
The wider stance and taller suspension are complemented by extended wheel arches, reprofiled bodywork to increase approach and departure angles, and extensive underbody armour.
Behind the scenes, the truck carries a full FIA-spec roll cage, a 550-litre fuel tank for the marathon stages, onboard compressed air, tools and spares. All of this adds significant weight, so the chassis and damping setup have been engineered to cope with long days spent pounding over dunes and rocks.
New electronics – including clever ‘Flight Mode’
One of the most intriguing features sits on the inside: a motorsport-grade electronic control system developed specifically for the D7X-R. Among its functions is a unique piece of software Land Rover calls Flight Mode.
When the Defender goes airborne, the system adjusts torque delivery to protect the drivetrain from shock loading when it lands. It’s a clever solution to one of rally-raid’s most frequent sources of mechanical failure.
